Laundry ironing or pressing machine.



C. A. SMITH.y LAUNDRY IRONING 0R PRESSINGMAGHINB. APPLICATION FILED APR.26, 1910.

WITNESSES: i v INVEyR MW @M1 M ATTURNLY.

C. A. SMITH. LAUNDRY IRONING 0R PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26, 1910.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

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WIVTNESSES:

@nM/a4 ATTDRNEY C. A. SMITH. LAUNDRY IRONING 0R PRBSSING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.26, 1910.

1,007,148, Patented 001.31, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTU MW MQJM ATTDRNEY.

o. A. SMITH. l LAUNDRY IRONING OR PRESSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.-

ATTDRNEY.

C. yA. SMITH.l LAUNDRY IROING 0R PRESSING MACHINE'. APPLIoATIoN ruim APB.2s,191o.

-ATTDRNEY will consequently v manner as to leave the pressed articles regu- UNITED srArns cARLos A. SMITH,

or Bauman, omo.

LAUNDRY moNING on rnnssme MACHINE.

Specification of Letterslatent.l

Application-filed April 26, 1910. Serial N6. 557,811.

7h all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARLOS A. SMITH, al citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Bellaire, county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Laundry Ironing or Pressing Machines, of which the following is a speciication. f 'j This invention relates to improvements in laundry ironing or pressing machines, and more particularly to that class of machines known-as flat-work pressing machines; andY it consists in the particular construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will hereinaftenbe fully described.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine whereon large at pieces, such as bed-sheets, table cloths, and the like, may vbe accurately placed, or squared prior to the pressing operation, and which e'ect the pressing in such lar in form or shape.A l

Further important objects of the invention-will hereinafter become apparent as the nature ofthe same is more fully understood.

In describing the invention 1n detail, reference is herein hadV to" the accompanying draWings,-orming a part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention; Fig.2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front endY elevation of a broken portion of the machine, showing the gearing; Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of operating the pressing table or chest and the controlling mechanism therefor, other portions of the mechanism being removed for the 'sake of clearness; Fig. 6 is a similar view of the same occupying a different position in its operation; Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial section on the line 7v-7, Fig. 1, showing portions of the table elevating mechanism; Fig. 8 is a similar view of a portion of the front end of the machine, showing parts occupying diii'erent positions fron. those shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a broken portion of the machine, showing the clutch employed in advancing the apron and illustrating portions of the clutch operating mechanism; Fig. 10 is a detail view showing the link mechanism; and Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross section "on the clutch employed in work-grippingdevice carried by the pressing table. Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts ,the sides' of a frame which supports at the rear end thereof a stationary bed 2 ot any having a flat upper surface. Journaled in cylindrical rollei` Inected by an yendless apron 4 adapted to carry thev work to be acted upon, the upper lap of saidapron traveling over the surface of the table 2. `5, by means of which the tension of the apron ma be adjusted, is mounted in an Iappropriate position in the lower part of the yframe, and one or more apron-support- 3 ,-said rollers being conof' the frame in the rearl of the table 2, as

.propriateposition 1s a drive-shaft 7 which is connected by belt, chain, or otherwise, (a vchain 8 being herein shown) to an the roller 3 at the rear or table-end of the iframe for drivingY apron. j

While any approved power and gearing driving the machine, that herein shown is preferred and, in part, comprises a motor 10 whose drive-shaft carries a worm 11 in. mesh the drive-shaft 7 of the'machine, a sprocketwheel 13 bolted to, said worm-gear through gear, a sprocket-wheel 15 rotatably mounted on the shaft 16 on which the roller 9 is fixed, said sprocket chain 8 connecting said sprocket-wheels, 17 and 18 respectively fixed on the necks of the rollers 9 and 3.

Located directly over the bed 2 is cally-movable pressing table, designated in a general way by the numeral 19, which is adapted to be reciprocated with relation to. said bed for pressing articles advanced over the latter by the apron comprises, essentially, a heated chest 20` to which o-r through which steam, heated air, or hot water is passed, as through suitable flexible valve-controll d tubes 21 leading vthroughout the several vieWs--l indicates -1 lsuitable or f' appropriate type or charactereac'h of the opposite ends of said .frame is a the same to carry the.`

suitable inotiveI may be employed for a verti- Patented oet.- 31, 1911.

i the line-1'1-11, Fig. 1, showing' the lateral A vertical-adjustable roller ing rollers 6 are mounted in the upper part shown. J ournaled in the frame in an ap-l so actuat- 1 ing member'for a roller 9 which is geared to with a worm-gear 12 loosely mounted on space-blocks 14 so as to turn with said wormand meshing gear-wheels 4. Said table 19 into the chest. Said pressing table or chest is supported by 'four trunnions 22 directed movable rod 27, the operation of which will presently be explained.

A treadle 28 is arranged in a position parallel to the frame at the front end of the table so as to be convenient to the operator when placing or adjusting the work on the api'on. Said rtreadle is mounted at its opposite ends upon outwardly-directed arms 29 carried by a longitudinally extending shaft 30 which is loosely mounted in one side of the frame. Pivotallyc'onnected to so as to be drawnhd'ownward when the latter is depressed, isla Vsubstantially upright rod 31 whose'opposite end is Y pivotally connected to one Varnrojf a bellcrank 32,the opposite arm of which has a hook 33 formed thereon adapted for interlocking engagement with a lip 34 carried by a vertically movable rod 35 which is mounted in outwardly-directed verticallyalined arms 36 carried by the frame, as

shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Interposed between v the upper of said arms 36 and an adjusting nut 37 carried upon the upper threadedend of said rod 35 is a rod-encircling coil-spring 38 adapted for normally maintaining said rod in an elevated position, as shown in Fig. 6. Pvotally connected to the upper end of said rod 35 is an angular-hand lever 39, one end of which is fixed upon a shaft 40-extending transversely of, and journaled in the opposite sides of, the frame. And fixed uponfsaid shaft 40 at points adjacent tothe opposite ends of the latter are the terminal members 41 of a transverse bar 42, the body of which is adapted to be clamped upon the previously stretched and straightened front end of an article to be pressed placed unon the apron 4, said bar 42'coperating with a transverse bar 43,` underlying said apron and fixed on the frame, to firmly hold the article while the body of the latter is being stretched and straightened prior to the pressing operation. As is obvious,'the handlever 39 is rockedrearward to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to efi'ectthe clamping of the front end of the article,y and this operation of the hand-lever 1s eiected against the tension of the spring 38, the rod 35 being thereby depressed' to a posit-ion where the lip 34 is engaged by the hook 33 of the' bell-crank 32. a spring 44 serving to normally maintain said bell- Loomis crank inan inwardly-drawn, or lip-engaging, position.

Connected with the treadle 28, so as to be operated by depression of the latter, is mechanism for releasing a spring-controlled clutch-member 45, feathered upon driveshaft 7, to cause the projections 46 of said member to engage or interlock with the hub 47 of the constantly-driven worm-gear 12 and to thus effect the rotation of said driveshaft. Said releasing mechanism comprises an inwardly and upwardly inclined arm 48 fixed upon the longitudinally-extending shaft 30, said arm 48 having pivotally connected thereto the lower end of an inclined rod 49 whose vopposite end is pivotally connected to the free end of an arm 50 fixed upon a shaft 51 extending parallel to the frame and journaled at one end in an outwardly-extended arm 52 and at its other end in the divided arm of a spider 53 in which the outer end of drive-shaft 7 is supported or journaled, the legs of said spider being mounted upon t-he outer ends of supporting arms 54 carried by the frame. Fixed upon said shaft 51 between the members of said divided arm of the spider, as shown in Fig. 2, is one end of a curved member 55, the downturned free end of which bears an anti-friction roller 56 which is adapted to operate against the vertical cam-faces 57 of the clutch-member 45, hereinbefore referred to, for normally maintaining the latter, against the tension ofit-s thrust-springs 58, in a retracted non-operative position, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5.

When the treadle 28 is depressed, two results are accomplished, the first being the withdrawal of the hook 33 from interlocking engagement with the lip 34, allowing the rod-'encircling spring 38 to elevate the lever 39 which, in turn, elevates the work-gripping bar 42. The second! result accomplished is the elevation, through the intermediate mechanism, of the free end of the member 55 from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6, releasing the clutch 45 and allowing the springs 58 to thrust lsaid clutch 45 inward into operative interlocking relation with the constantlymoving worm-gear 12. Having assumed such relation, the drive-shaft 7 is actuated to rotate. The foot of the operatorie immediatelyv removed from the treadle after the latter has been depressed, and this allows the free end ofthe member 55 to drop back upon` the periphery of the clutch 45. As said clutch rotates, the roller 56 is engaged by a vertical cam-face 5 7 on said vclutch and the latter is thereby withdrawn,

against the tension of the springs 58, from operative engagement with the worm-gear 12, stopping the drive-shaft 7. It will be noted that two cam faces are provided on said clutch 45, means being thus provided whereby only one-half revolution will be;` made by said clutch and, consequently, by

the elevation of said table. Said eccentric 59 operates in an oblong` channel or opening 60 in an elliptical member 61 carried by the; when given the half revolution, as above mentioned thrusts said rod 27 upward, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 7. The table remains in? this npraised position until the drive-shaft isi again actuated to make another half revolui supported upon thelower ends of bolts or A depending lever 62 is vcarried by' thel outwardly-extended end of the pivot-pin 63 upon which is mounted the foremost lever z 23 at the gearing-side of the machine, andI As the tablet,

vertically-movable rod 27, and,

tion.

rotates with said pivot-pin. is elevated, as above described, said lever 62 is swung rearward from theposition indi-2 cated by dot-ted lines in Fig. 7 to that indicated in full lines in said figure. In its said o a lip 64 carried by a;

which is slidably mounted in outstanding arms 66 carried by the frame, and carries said bar rearward therewith against the tension of a suit- 67, withdrawing the front end of said bar from engagement with the cam-face 68 of a clutch member-"69 feathered on the shaft 16 upon which the roller 9 is rigidly mounted. The withdrawal movement, it engages longitudinally-movable bar ably mounted spring of said bar releases said clutch 69 which Ais then immediately thrust outward by springs 70, causing its projections 71 to enter recesses in the hub of sprocket-wheel 15, inter;

.locking said sprocket-wheel with roller 9,

and thus effecting the rotation of thel rollers 9 and 3 which respectively bear on v their necks the intermeshing gears 17 and 18. Consequently, it will be` seen that', at the same time that the pressing table is eleva-ted,

as hereinbefore described, the apron-carryfront end of the machine ing roller 3 at the is caused to rotate, advancing the apron 4.

Located directly over and parallelV to bar- 65 is a suitably mounted adjustable stationary bar an inclined rides in its said rearward movement.

been moved rearward a sufficient distance to nient with clutch 69, the lever 62 is automatically disengaged from the lip 64, allowing -`said bar 65 to be again forced forward,

` actuated by its spring 67. As said clutch 69 rotates, the end of the bar 65 is engaged by the cam-face of the former .and `said clutchi stopping prior to the depression ofJ the drive-'shaft is given A the one-half revolution, as described, an ecf centric disk 59 iXed upon said shaft close'` to the frame is given a half turn, effecting 72 which has on its outer face swell 73 over which the lever 62 This swell is so located that, when'the bar '65 has is thereby gradually withdrawn, against the tension of its thrust springs 7 0,from operative engagement with'the sprocket-wheel 15, the advancing movement of the apron 4. A completerevolution of the roller 9 is made each time that it is actuated to rotate, as just described; and the gears 17 and 18 respectively carried by said roller 9 and the roller 3' are so proportioned in size that, in a. revolution ofthe former, the apron is advanced a distance just sufficient to carry an article mounted thereon from its initial mounting position at the front end of the machine to a position directly underneath the pressing table.

A work gripping device comprising a rectangular member 74 surrounds the pressing table.V As shown in Fig. 11, said member is screws 75 which are mounted in a vertical position in outwardly-directed supportingarms 76 carried by said table. Said member 74- normally stands-in a position where its lower or gripping face occupies a lower level than the plane of the under face of the table, so that it grips the lateral edges of a rect-angular article to be acted -upon slightly in advance of the seating of the table when the latter is being lowered. Coil springsl7 7 interposed between said member 74 and the under sides of the supporting arms 76, and encircling table being depressed upon the bed and also cause said member to maintain a grip upon the lateral edges of the pressed article after the table hasA been slightly elevated, tlius effecting the stripping of said article from the pressing said'article adheres to said face after the pressing operation.

To provide for the elevation and depression of the table at a singleoperation, when such is desired, thereby avoiding the neces- Isity for depressing the treadle to eifect each separate movement of the table, a link `mechanism is provided between the end 'of the shaft 16 and the head 78 in 'which the the bolts 75, serve to admit of the I face of the table in cases where thrust-springs 58 are mounted. Said mecha` nism comprises mounted on an arm 80 carried'by said head 78, a spring-pressed dog 81 carried by one armof said bellcrank and normally underying the body of'th'e `member 55, as shown in Figs. 3 and 10,*and a rod 82 pivot-ally connected at one end to thel opposite arm of said bell-crank-and at its opposite end to a. wrist-pin 83 carried by the endof shaft 1 6. Now, aswill be obvious, assuming that the table is being elevated, when the shaft 16 has made 'a half revolution, the parts con' stituting the. link mechanism above de# scribed will be moved from 'the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 10 to that shown in dotted lines in said igure, elevating said member 55 and thereby :releasing clutch`45,

'a bell-crank 79 pivotally precisely as when the treadle is depressed, effecting the return, or lowering of the table. 'Ihe dog is withdrawn from engagement with said member after the latter has been suiiciently elevated, allowing it to drop back to its normal position. As the shaft 16 completes it-s revolution, the bell-crank 79 is rocked back. When. the beveled point of the dog engages the member 55, said dog is forced back against the tension of` its spring 84 until it has passed by saidfmember, after which it is thrust outward into a position underlying said member. When it is desired to stop the pressing table at the limit of its upward movement, the hook-end 85 of the rod 82 is disengaged from the wrist-pin 83.

It will be obvious that various alterations may be made in the construction and arrangement of many of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tolsecure by Letters Patent, is l l. In a laundry pressing machine, a bed, a pressing table located over said bed, a normally Stationary shaft, a constantly-driven element rotating on said shaft, means for interlocking said element with said shaft, means interposed between said shaft and said table whereby a complete reciprocation of said table is effected with each revolution of said shaft, automatic means for disconnecting said shaft from said element at each half revolution, a conveyer arranged to travel between the bed and the' table, means for advancing said conveyer, and means operated by the reciprocating movement of the table whereby said advancing means is actuated to give .the conveyer' a definite movement.

2. In a laundry pressing machine, a bed, a pressing table located over said bed, a normally stationary shaft, a constantly-driven element rotating on said shaft, means for interlocking said element vwith said shaft, means vinterposed between said shaft and saidtable whereby said table is reciprocated, means for disconnecting said shaft from said element at predetermined points in the revolution, a conveyer arranged to travel between the bed and theytable, and means for intermittently advancing said conveyer.

3. In a laundry pressing machine, a bed, a pressing table located over said bed, a normally stationary shaft, a constantly-driven element rotating on said shaft, means for interlocking said element With said shaft, means interposed between said shaft and said table whereby said table is reciprocated, means for disconnecting said shaft from said element at predetermined points in the revolution, a conveyer arranged yto travel lbetween the bed and the table, and means oper- Loomis ated by the reciprocating movement of the table whereby the travel of the conveyer is definitely limited.

1l. In a laundry pressing machine, a frame, a bed at one end of said frame, a pressing table located over said bed, a conveyer arranged to travel between said bed and said table, a normally stationary shaft, a constantly-driven element rotating on said shaft, a treadle, means interposed between said tread/le and said element whereby` said shaft is interlcked with the latter, means actuated by the rotating shaft whereby said conveyer is advanced a definite distance, means actuated by the rotatingshaft whereby said table is reciprocated, .and automatic means whereby said shaft is disconnected from said element at determined intervals.

5. In' a laundry pressing machine, a bed, pivoted levers at opposite sides of said bed, a pressing table located over said bed, trunynions carried by said table, said trunnions belng mounted 1n said levers, a normally stationary shaft, a constantly-driven element rotating on'said shaft, means for interlocking said element with said shaft, and means interposed between said shaft and said levers whereby the latter are actuated *to elevate and lower said table.

6. In a laundry pressing machine, a bed,

pivoted levers at opposite sides of said bed,

a pressing table located over said bed, trunnions carried by said table, said' trunnions being mounted in said levers, a normally stationary shaft, a constantly-driven element rotating on said shaft, means for interlocking said element with said shaft, vertical rods connected to said levers, and means controlled by movement of said shaft for reciprocating said rods to eect the reciprocationof said table.

7 In a laundry pressing machine, a bed, v

, pivoted levers at opposite sides of said bed,

a pressing table located over said bed, trunnions carried by said table, said trunnions being mounted in said levers, a normally stationary shaft, a constantly-driven element rotating on said shaft, means for interlocking said element with said shaft, means interposed between said shaft and said 1evers whereby thelatter are actuated to elevate and lower said table, and means for disconnecting said shaft from said element at predetermined points in the revolution.

8. In a laundry pressing machine, a bed,

pivoted levers at opposite sides of said bed,

a pressing table located over said bed, trunnions carried by said table, said trunnions being mounted in said levers, a normally stationary shaft, a constantly-driven elementy rotating on said shaft, means for interlocking said element -with said shaft, means interposed between said shaft and said levers whereby the latter are actuated to elevate and lowerl said table, a conveyer ar- I'.

ranged to travel between the bed and vthe table, and means for intermittently advancing said conveyer.

9. In a laundry'pressing machine, a bed, pivoted levers at oppositesides of said bed,

a pressing table located over said bed, trun-y nions carried by said table, said trunnions being mounted in said levers, a normally stationary shaft, a constantly-driven el'ement rotating on said shaft, means forinterlocking said element with said shaft, means interposed between said shaft and said levers whereby the latter are actuated to elevate and lower said table, means for discon,

necting said shaft from said element at predetermined points in the revolution, and means under the control of said levers whereby said shaft is disconnected from said element when the table has reached the limit of its reciprocating movement.

10. In a laundry pressing machine, a bed,

a conveyer arranged to travel intermittently over said bed, a pressing table located over said bed, means for' reciprocating said table with relation t0 said bed for pressing articles carried by said conveyer, and means carried by said table whereby pressed articles are automatically stripped from the face of said table when the latter is elevated. y

. Witnesses:

11. In a laundry pressing machine, a bed, a conveyer arranged to travel intermittently over said bed, a pressing table located over said bed, means for reciprocating said table with relation to said bed for pressing articles carried by said conveyer, anda work gripping device carried by said table whereby pressed articles are stripped from .the pressing face of said table when the latter is elevated.

12. In a laundry pressing machine, a bed, a conveyer arranged to travel intermittently over said bed, a pressing table located `over said bed, means for reciprocating said table with relation to said bed for pressing articles carried by said conveyer, work stripping means, said means comprising a vertically movable work gripping member supported by and embracing the lateral edges of said table, and springs normally holding said member depressed below the level of the table.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two subscribingy witnesses.

CARLOS A. SMITH.

I-I. E. DUNLAP, BRUCE MORRIS. 

